Sales of grey imports continue to surge - H108

[Ahyoo2002]

Business Times - 23 Jul 2008

 

Sales of grey imports continue to surge

 

Nissan is now a key parallel import brand due to the iconic GT-R model

 

By SAMUEL EE

 

PARALLEL imports continued to power ahead in the first six months of this year, with 11,860 units registered, or 23.5 per cent of the 50,549 new cars registered in Singapore during that period - up from 2007's 20.9 per cent market share.

 

The parallel import (PI) figure for the first half is contrasted against that of the 36,891 units by the Motor Traders Association of Singapore (MTA). MTA is a grouping of authorised distributors, although not all such distributors here are members.

 

The ratio of PI to MTA sales is about 1:3 - the same as in Q1. This means that for every car sold by a parallel importer, three were sold by MTA members. Last year's ratio was 1:4.

 

In the grey market, Honda currently holds sway, unlike Toyota in the authorised realm. Honda, Japan's No. 2 car maker, accounts for 46.9 per cent of all new parallel imports sold between January and June 2008, while Toyota, the world's biggest car maker, makes up 41.1 per cent.

 

Together, Honda and Toyota constitute 88 per cent of all first-half parallel imports.

 

The pace of Q2 sales has not slowed down compared with Q1. In fact, Q2's volume is slightly higher than Q1's.

 

One interesting feature of H1 2008 is that the Nissan brand is suddenly a PI favourite with 145 units sold during this period, compared with just 27 grey imports for the whole of 2007.

 

This is mainly due to the overwhelming popularity of the high-performance Nissan GT-R sports car (88 units in H1 2008) and the compact Dualis SUV (37 units).

 

The first GT-R arrived here in January as a grey import and it will only be available from authorised Nissan distributor Tan Chong Motor Sales sometime in the second quarter of 2009.

 

The four Japanese brands combined - Honda, Toyota, Suzuki and Nissan - account for a whopping 94.4 per cent of all PI year-to-date sales.

 

Among PI models, the most popular is the Honda Fit with 2,058 units. This diminutive five-door hatchback arrived here last November while the Jazz, the export version from authorised distributor Kah Motor, will only be ready for registration nearer year-end.

 

The Stream compact MPV is No. 2 with 1,865 units, while No. 3 is the domestic Japanese version of the ever popular Toyota Corolla, called the Axio (1,406 units).

 

Also noteworthy is the number of Mercedes-Benz cars - 142 units in the first six months versus 236 for 2007 - a fact that can be attributed largely to the new C-Class model (43.7 per cent of total Merc registrations).

Edited July 23, 2008 by Ahyoo2002

[Ahyoo2002]

PIs:

 

No 1 : Honda Fit with 2,058 units

No 2 : Honda Stream with 1,865 units

No 3 : Toyota Axio with 1,406 units

 

ADs:

 

No 1 : Honda Civic with 3,283 units (including the hybrid variant)

No 2 : Toyota Corolla Altis with 2,539 units

No 3 : Toyota Vios with 1,925 units.

Edited July 23, 2008 by Ahyoo2002

[Ahyoo2002]

From the above figure, the sales figure of number 1 and 2 top sellers by PIs (both are Honda) are more than the one offer by AD Edited July 23, 2008 by Ahyoo2002

[Newsman]

PI doing a good job to keep price competitive.

 

[Ahyoo2002]

Yah, PI is doing a good job

[Husky]

If PIs r doing so well, word of mouth should be corresponding good, how come so many bros and sisters here always tok bad abt them leh?

 

Mazda AD just called me to ask me to change my car...say "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!"

[Ahyoo2002]

Doing good job does not always means good service.

 

The main reason for PIs selling more FIT than AD's Jazz is mainly FIT is new model and AD need 1 year to bring it in.

 

Also, the main reason why PIs selling more Stream than ADs is because PI Stream come with black interior, cheaper pricing and RSZ.

 

I only can said PI offer an alternative than AD do not care or can not cater to.

[Yaloryalor]

PIs:

 

No 1 : Honda Fit with 2,058 units

No 2 : Honda Stream with 1,865 units

No 3 : Toyota Axio with 1,406 units

 

ADs:

 

No 1 : Honda Civic with 3,283 units (including the hybrid variant)

No 2 : Toyota Corolla Altis with 2,539 units

No 3 : Toyota Vios with 1,925 units.

 

I think when KM see this report sure very sad, PI really eat into their business!

[Ahyoo2002]

Yah, more PI Stream and FIT than the KM